Lithuania PM to discuss Rail Baltica legal claims next week

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius plans to meet Transport Minister Juras Taminskas next week to discuss legal claims brought by contractors against LTG Infra over the Rail Baltica project.

"I have asked the head of the Ministry of Transport to meet me next week to discuss not only the Air Baltic issue but also the Rail Baltica theme. As you know, we have claims from some contractors against LTG Infra," Sinkevicius told reporters in Karmelava on Wednesday.

The business news portal Verslo Zinios reported on Tuesday that HISK, Tilsta and Italy's Rizzani de Eccher have filed four lawsuits against LTG Infra, the entity responsible for implementing the Rail Baltica project.

Addressing news that Latvian national carrier Air Baltic is suspending three winter routes from Lithuania, the prime minister reiterated that the priority remains maintaining the overall number of flight connections.

"We are perhaps not thinking so much about purchasing shares (in Air Baltic-BNS) or contributing to the airline's operations; as a country, we are interested in seeing the number of flight destinations continue to grow, or at least not decrease. We are looking at everything holistically, and so far, no decisions have been made," Sinkevicius said.

According to the prime minister, Lithuania has not received a new offer to acquire shares in Air Baltic, following an earlier proposal from Latvia.

Air Baltic is set to cut winter flights from Vilnius to Berlin and Dubai, as well as from Palanga to Tenerife. In late July, Taminskas said there was no data suggesting the airline planned to reduce operations or withdraw from Lithuania entirely, though the ministry is preparing a contingency plan for such a scenario.

Latvia's Ministry of Transport officially proposed that Lithuania and Estonia acquire stakes in Air Baltic last year.